Franklin City Council calls special meeting to discuss city leadership

(Franklin) – City Clerk Myra Braswell notified HeardCitizen.com via email Monday that the Franklin City Council would be holding a special called meeting to discuss and vote on the Mayor Pro-Tem position.

Councilman Johnny Adams has been serving as the Mayor Pro Tem as well as the acting Mayor since May 7, 2012 when then Mayor Teresa Chapman was suspended by Governor Nathan Deal pending the outcome of her court case.

Chapman is facing dozens of felony charges including Identity Fraud and Theft by Deception in relation to her sales of AFLAC insurance. The suspension is to remain in effect until the charges are dismissed or until the end of her elected term which expires at the end of this year.

Franklin City Council at last week’s meeting clockwise from bottom left: Joel Rogers, Johnny Adams, Bo Almond, City Clerk Myra Braswell, City Attorney David Mecklin, Jimmy Hamil, Shane Manders

All city council seats as well as the Mayor seat will be voted on in the upcoming November elections later this year.

Councilman Bo Almond called the special meeting and issued the following statement by phone Tuesday evening: “We are meeting to discuss personnel issues. This is an election year and we want to give some other people around the table a chance to show leadership,” stated Almond.

Almond has served in the Mayor Pro Tem position during the time Adams has been serving as acting Mayor.

Councilman Adams stated by phone Tuesday afternoon that he had not been officially notified of the meeting. “I have not been notified of the meeting but I understand that all of the other council members have been notified,” stated Adams.

Adams added that discussions were held during executive session of last Thursday’s regular meeting, but that he was unable to discuss them. He did confirm that he would be in attendance at Wednesday night’s meeting.

Stay tuned to HeardCitizen.com Wednesday night for a full report on the meeting.

In other council news from Thursday’s meeting, the City Council is expected to vote next month on a proposed project which would move Franklin City Hall to the community center leaving only the police department at the current location on the square.

The project would involve the addition of a big room on the back of the community center for hosting banquets, dinners, and other events.

The council also voted to adjust the barricades on the closed access road between Glover Road and the river to allow for golf carts to pass. The adjustments would also re-open a second driveway for a neighboring residence.